Artists Present Works from Residency in Canyons of the Ancients National Monument (09-23-13)

DOLORES, Colo.– A painter, sculptor and cellist who spent a month collaborating with scientists at Canyons of the Ancients National Monument bridging the gap between art and scientific perspectives on wilderness will present their work at1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29, at the Anasazi Heritage Center.

The project, entitled “Aldo & Leonardo,” was inspired by the vision of Leonardo da Vinci and the wisdom of wilderness advocate Aldo Leopold. The project celebrates the lands, resources and opportunities afforded by the Wilderness Act, which will mark its 50thanniversary next year. Participating artists collaborated with environmental scientists to illustrate the value of wild areas and honor scientific efforts to preserve wilderness.

During September, the participants— Ben McCarthy, Leslie Sobel and Esther Rogers— accompanied Bureau of Land Management staff to wilderness areas within Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. They learned about the unique challenges involved in managing a wilderness rich in both natural and archaeological treasures while visiting places of special geological interest, counting rare snakes and lizards found within the Monument, and recording a Puebloan rock art panel recently discovered in a remote location. When not hiking and exploring, the artists worked on creative responses to the landscape for their public presentation.

The project is sponsored by the Colorado Art Ranch and the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute.

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's mission is to manage and conserve the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations under our mandate of multiple-use and sustained yield. In Fiscal Year 2013, the BLM generated $4.7 billion in receipts from public lands.